Extended Charging Handle

ABSTRACT

A charging handle for the M16/M4/AR-15 family of rifles, comprising a longitudinal extension bar spacing the grip from the operating arm and from the receiver-mating recess normally found on the grip. The extension bar spaces the grip rearwardly of the receiver group, over the forward end of the stock, to provide better access and clearance to the user, especially under stress, when wearing bulky gloves, or when large optics or other accessories are located on the rear of the receiver.

RELATED APPLICATIONS/PRIORITY BENEFIT CLAIM

Not applicable.

FIELD

The subject matter of the present application is in the field of charging handles for the M16/M4/AR-15 family of rifles.

BACKGROUND

The M16/M4/AR-15 style semiautomatic rifle employs a manual charging handle used to selectively operate the reciprocating bolt in the receiver. The charging handle has a long operating arm normally residing inside the receiver, and an external “T”-grip accessible to the firearm operator at the rear of the receiver. The T-grip includes a rounded relief cut or recess that provides a rounded abutment or shoulder that mates with a rounded abutment or stop at the rear end of the receiver, so that the middle of the T-grip is partly recessed into the receiver. The T-grip further includes a latch that latches the T-grip to the rear of the receiver while the bolt reciprocates during firing. The latch is configured to be disengaged when the T-grip is grasped and pulled back.

The charging handle is primarily used to load a cartridge from a fresh magazine when the magazine is inserted with the bolt closed on an empty chamber—the handle is pulled back to manually retract the bolt, and then released to chamber a cartridge. The charging handle is used secondarily for manually clearing a jammed case or unfired cartridge from the chamber when the action fails to cycle—the handle is pulled back to retract the bolt and eject the case/cartridge, and then released to chamber a new cartridge.

In the stress of a firefight or the hurry of a competition, when wearing gloves, or when using bulky optics which overhang the rear of the receiver, it might be more difficult for a shooter to find the T-grip by feel and/or to use the T-grip to operate the charging handle.

It is known to use “extended” charging handles, where the T-grip is modified with lateral extensions to make it easier to operate. These are not always convenient, however, since the extensions might snag on clothing or interfere with access to the bolt release and forward assist features on the sides of the receiver. Also, prior extended charging handles do not effectively address the issue of bulky optics overhanging the rear of the receiver.

BRIEF SUMMARY

I have invented an extended charging handle for the M16/M4/AR-15 family of rifles (hereafter collectively “AR-15”), in which an extension bar has been added between the T-grip and the operating arm to longitudinally space the T-grip from the receiver. The extension bar comprises a body wider than the operating arm and narrower than the T-grip, with at least the forward end of the extension bar having a width equal to or greater than the width of the rounded receiver stop to support a rounded receiver-mating relief cut or “recess” portion defining a rounded stop surface. The extension bar also includes an elongated side slot for an elongated latch arm when a conventional latch arm is used.

In a first form the extension bar comprises a one-piece fixed-length body. In a second form the extension bar comprises at least one removable intermediate segment for adjusting the length of the extension bar. The removable segment of the extension bar can have a dovetail cutout at one end and a dovetail tongue at the other end to mate with matching tongue and cutout portions of the extension bar.

In a further form, the elongated slot for the elongated latch arm in the extension bar is only a half-slot, i.e. it comprises only a lower shelf or shoulder to support the latch arm. This discourages the accumulation of debris that could interfere with operation of the latch.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description below, in light of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear right-side perspective view of an AR-15 type rifle, showing a prior art charging handle in its normal forward position in solid lines, and showing it retracted in phantom lines.

FIG. 2 is a rear right-side perspective view of an AR-15 type rifle, showing a charging handle according to the present invention in its normal forward position.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but shows the inventive charging handle retracted.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the prior art charging handle of FIG. 1 next to the charging handle of FIG. 2 according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a left-side rear perspective view of an AR-15 type rifle, showing an adjustable-length version of a charging handle according to the invention.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5, but shows the adjustable-length charging handle in exploded assembly view.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the charging handle of FIG. 4, with a modified support for the elongated latch arm.

FIG. 7A shows the charging handle of FIG. 7 from a left-side rear perspective view of the rifle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, an AR-15 type rifle is shown at 10, with a receiver 12 having an upper rear end 14 terminating in a rounded abutment or stop 16 designed to receive a grip portion 22 of a charging handle 20. Specifically, the rounded stop 16 is designed to mate with a rounded receiver-mating recess 22 a defining a rounded stop surface located between the ears or ends 22 b of the grip. This rounded configuration is believed to be designed to better distribute forces and to reduce wear on the receiver and handle when the handle slams home. It is a standard receiver configuration on this type of rifle.

Charging handle 20 has an operating arm 24 located inside the receiver 12 when the charging handle is in the “home” or forward position shown in solid lines. A forward end of the operating arm (not shown) selectively operates the rifle's bolt in known manner.

Charging handle 20 is often milled from a wear-resistant aluminum alloy, and except for the latch structure (including any related pivot pin and spring structure) is believed to be milled from a single piece or billet of metal.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 5, when the charging handle is in the home position, grip portion 22 is partly recessed into the rear end of the upper receiver 14, with a middle portion including recess 22 a residing in a slot 16 a (FIG. 3) under the rounded stop 16. Charging handle includes a latch 26 (FIG. 4, bottom handle) whose latch-end 26 a automatically engages a notch or similar strike 17 (FIG. 5), usually on the left side of the receiver, to secure the handle in place when not operating the bolt.

As seen in FIG. 1, grip 22 on charging handle 20 might be difficult to operate in a hurry under certain circumstances. Obstructions on the receiver such as forward assist 13 or rear-hanging optic 15 can interfere with the operator's access to the charging handle, and slow down its use, particularly under stress or when wearing thick gloves. This can be disadvantageous or even dangerous, depending on the situation.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 4, I have invented an improved charging handle 30, with an intermediate extension bar 32 that spaces the grip 22 from the operating arm 24 and spaces the receiver-mating recess 22 a from the grip. Extension bar 32 comprises a strong, rigid body having a width W1 greater than the width W2 of the operating arm 24, and equal to or greater than the width W3 of upper rear end 14 of the receiver (in particular rounded stop 16) in order to support mating recess 22 a, to increase the strength and rigidity of the handle when retracted, and to provide a support for an elongated latch arm 36. The thickness (top to bottom) of extension bar 32 is preferably equal to or greater than that of grip 22 and operating arm 24. Operating arm 24 remains unchanged from the prior operating arm of handle 20 in FIG. 1.

While the length of the extension bar 32 may vary, generally being around one to three inches, it is preferred that it be long enough to space grip portion 22 to the rear of the rearmost portion of receiver 12, for example lower rear portion 13, which may be wider than the forward end of the stock 11 where it joins the receiver. The example of FIG. 2 shows grip 22 overlying a portion of the forward end of stock 11, and illustrates the relative lack of obstruction to an operator's fingers gripping the side ears 22 b of grip portion 22.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show that charging handle 30 with extension bar 32 not only spaces grip 22 rearwardly from the receiver and its obstructions, but also provides a much greater grip area to operate the charging handle. Whereas prior handles 20 as in FIG. 1 offer only a fingertip grip at 22, an operator can often get a full hand grip on the grip-plus-extension bar 22, 32 of the improved handle. This might be helpful for people with weaker grip, or for particularly difficult jams.

FIG. 4 shows a side-by-side comparison of a prior charging handle 20 (bottom) and a new charging handle 30 (top) according to the invention. Whereas receiver-mating recess 22 a in the middle of grip 22 of prior handle 20 is actually recessed into the grip, lying between a midline of the grip ears 22 b, receiver-mating recess 22 a on handle 30 does not extend into the grip portion 22—it lies well forward of the grip.

FIG. 4 also shows the latches 26 and 36 of their respective handles 20 and 30. Latch 36 must extend from grip ears 22 b, where it is operated by the fingers, to the rear end of operating arm 24 so that its latch end 26 a can engage the notch or strike 17 on the rifle. Latch arm 36 accordingly has an elongated arm portion 36 b extending along extension bar 32 and supported in a mating slot 33 milled into the side of the extension bar.

Charging handle 30 shown above is milled from a single piece of aluminum alloy, like a conventional handle 20, and unless noted otherwise operates in the same fashion as conventional handle 20. It will be understood that the choice of material and forming method is not limited to the illustrated example.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a modified extension bar 32′, in which a portion of the extension bar includes at least one removable/replaceable adjuster segment 40 between the operating arm 24 and the grip 22 to adjust the length of the extension bar. This might be needed where the firearm has unusually large optics 15 installed, or where the firearm operator is wearing bulky gloves, in which case the extension bar can be lengthened by adding one or more segments 40. Or, where the firearm operator shoots with a cheek weld on stock 11 unusually close to the receiver, it might be desired to shorten the extension bar 32 by removing one or more segments 40.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 4 and 5, adjustment segment 40 includes a rear-facing dovetail 41 and a forward-facing dovetail cutout 43. Dovetail 41 mates with a dovetail cutout 43 on a rear portion 32 b of extension bar 32′, while dovetail cutout 43 mates with a dovetail 41 on a forward portion 32 c of extension bar 32′. The dovetail configuration preferably tapers from top to bottom for a tapered locking fit when vertically mated, preferably supplemented with an axial connector such as bolt 122 extending through the extension bar 32′ via a mating bore in extension bar portions 32 b, 32 c and segment 40. Latch arm slot 33 extends through the dovetail connections, as best shown in FIG. 5, and the latch arm in the slot also helps reinforce the connected segments of the charging handle.

It will be understood that while a single removable adjuster segment 40 is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, extension bar 32′ could include multiple removable adjuster segments.

It will also be understood that while an intermediate removable dovetailed segment 40 is shown as the currently preferred structure for adjusting the length of extension bar 32, other types of connection besides dovetail are possible, and other structures for adjusting the length of the extension bar are possible.

FIGS. 7 and 7A show a charging handle 30 according to the invention, with a modified latch support slot 33′ in which the upper “shelf” or shoulder of extension bar material normally overlying the latch arm has been removed. Modified slot 33′ is therefore essentially a lower support shelf or shoulder integral with the body of extension bar 32. The open nature of support 33′ resists the accumulation of debris and dirt that could adversely affect the operation of latch 36. Other options include making the upper and/or lower “shelf” portions of extension bar 32 discontinuous, with openings allowing dirt and debris to fall out or to be more easily cleaned out.

Description of Operation

In operation, the charging handle 30 with extension bar 32, once installed on the rifle, is used in the same manner as a prior charging handle.

It will be understood that the disclosed embodiments represent presently preferred examples of how to make and use the invention, but are intended to enable rather than limit the invention. Variations and modifications of the illustrated examples in the foregoing written specification and drawings may be possible without departing from the scope of the invention. It should further be understood that to the extent the term “invention” is used in the written specification, it is not to be construed as a limiting term as to number of claimed or disclosed inventions or discoveries or the scope of any such invention or discovery, but as a term which has long been conveniently and widely used to describe new and useful improvements in science and the useful arts. The scope of the invention should accordingly be construed by what the above disclosure teaches and suggests to those skilled in the art, and by any claims that the above disclosure supports in this application or in any other application claiming priority to this application. 

What is claimed is:
 1. For an AR-15 style rifle, a charging handle comprising an operating arm and a grip and a receiver-mating recess, the improvement comprising: an extension bar between the operating arm and the grip, the extension bar spacing the grip from the receiver-mating recess and including a forward end defining the receiver-mating recess at a location spaced forwardly from the grip, the extension bar comprising a rigid body having a width at least at the forward end greater than a width of the operating arm, equal to or greater than a width of the receiver-mating recess, and less than a width of the grip.
 2. The charging handle of claim 1, wherein the extension bar comprises a single fixed body.
 3. The charging handle of claim 1, wherein the extension bar comprises a removable length-adjusting segment between the grip and the operating arm.
 4. The charging handle of claim 3, wherein the removable length-adjusting segment comprises a dovetail configuration at forward and rear ends thereof for mating with matching dovetail configurations on the extension bar.
 5. The charging handle of claim 1, wherein the extension bar comprises a latch having an elongated latch arm extending the length of the extension bar, and further comprises a slot means along a side thereof for supporting the latch arm.
 6. The charging handle of claim 5, wherein the slot comprises a lower shelf supporting and overlying a lengthwise portion of a lower side of the latch arm, and further wherein an upper side of the latch arm is uncovered.
 7. The charging handle of claim 1, wherein the extension bar comprises a rectangular bar.
 8. The charging handle of claim 1, wherein the width of the extension bar is constant from a forward end adjacent the operating arm to a rear end adjacent the grip.
 9. The charging handle of claim 1, wherein the extension bar has a thickness equal to a thickness of the operating arm and of the grip. 